Chaucer as a Genius

[Psychoku]

This year I enjoyed a course in Medieval Literature, subtitled "Writing London." We did a wonderful survey of about 5 or 6 authors finishing up with Shakespeare's Henry V to show a contrast many years later. The course began with a very heavy look into Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales which we read in the Old English it was written in. This presented a bit of a curve since at times the effort felt like translating a foreign language.

Regardless of the difficulty early on, the few weeks we spent on Chaucer gave me a great appreciation for the author (and also helped with my overall ability to read objectively and analyze rhetoric.)

I remember reading a modern adaptation of a few selections of the Tales in high school. It was a miserable experience, but maybe that was due in part to a teacher who couldn't create interest in the topic. I thought I would never return to the stories again. I saw no need. Therefore I was hesitant when the syllabus for this course largely revolved around the medieval author.

Boy was I glad to have had this presented by a truly enthusiastic professor. I have analyzed the heck out of Chaucer's Wife of Bath character who is so rich a segment of writing between her appearance in the General Prologue and her prologue and tales. In fact, I'm still writing my final paper using her and balancing her sections against The Peasant's Revolt as chronicled by Froissart.

For those who haven't read The Canterbury Tales with the proper guidance, it is rich with rhetoric worth examining. Perhaps some selections are the original tongue-in-cheek humor to come out of England. Everything seems to have a double meaning. Everything is worth a closer look. And Chaucer's play with the writing is incredible.

I have no objection to Harold Bloom including Chaucer in his book on 100 examples of Genius.

Has anyone else had the privilege of enjoying this great mind?

[Hexx]

I just wrapped up a semester of British Literature and The Canterbury Tales was the second to last piece we spent time on. Due to time constraints, we were unable to read it in-depth, so we had to focus mainly on the prologue and a few of the more notable characters tales and prologues. I'm going to go back and start from the beginning and read it through to the end sometime. I don't feel like I got much out of it because we were in such a rush to move on. Still, I enjoyed what I did read of it.

[Psychoku]

Well, I don't know how I feel about the idea of necessarily reading it straight though. I think it's much better enjoyed in a disordered fashion, but with heavy study. Seems you were sadly cheated, just as I was in high school. I don't know if I could tolerate an entire course on the Tales, but it would certainly be a worthwhile course to take. Good luck on your continued reading and study.